Secure Payload Provisioning for Device-Specific Key Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack reliable and secure methods for storing and provisioning digital payloads, particularly digital certificates, to multiple smart thermostat devices, leading to inefficiencies and security risks in implementing demand response instructions from utility providers.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a secure payload generator and a payload warehouse that encrypts private keys using public keys, allowing only the requesting device to access the encrypted payloads, ensuring secure storage and provisioning on an as-needed basis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If digital payloads including private keys are stored and transmitted using conventional methods, then provisioning is simpler, but security is compromised and interception risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary encryption of digital payloads using device-specific public keys before storage in the payload warehouse. This advance preparation ensures that when payloads are provisioned to devices, they are already encrypted with the correct device-specific encryption key, eliminating the need for complex real-time encryption operations and reducing provisioning complexity while maintaining high security
Solution Approach 2:
The payload warehouse acts as an intermediary between the certificate authority and end devices. It stores encrypted payloads and manages the provisioning process, simplifying the overall system architecture. The warehouse handles the complex tasks of payload encryption, storage, and secure distribution, thereby reducing the complexity burden on individual devices while maintaining robust security
2Productivity
If digital certificates are provisioned to all devices in advance, then devices can immediately implement demand response instructions, but resource waste increases and security risks are amplified
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and provisions only the specific digital payload required by each individual device when needed, rather than distributing universal pre-configured certificates to all devices. This on-demand provisioning approach eliminates waste by ensuring each device receives only its necessary credentials, reducing resource consumption while maintaining immediate operational capability
Solution Approach 2:
Devices can request and receive their own specific digital payloads from the payload warehouse as needed. This self-service mechanism allows devices to obtain credentials on-demand without requiring pre-provisioning to all devices, thereby maintaining productivity while eliminating resource waste associated with universal pre-distribution
3Ease of operation
If digital payloads are stored in centralized repositories, then provisioning is streamlined, but vulnerability to interception and unauthorized access increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies device-specific encryption to each payload using the individual device's public key before storage in the centralized payload warehouse. This means each payload has local quality tailored to its destination device, making the centralized repository secure because intercepted payloads cannot be decrypted without the specific device's private key. This approach maintains provisioning ease through centralization while eliminating interception risks
4Reliability
If encryption is performed at the time of payload transmission, then security is maintained, but provisioning time increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs encryption of digital payloads in advance during the payload creation phase, using the destination device's public key. This preliminary encryption action means that when the payload is later provisioned to the device, no additional encryption time is required. The security is maintained through advance encryption while provisioning time is reduced, as the payload is already secured and ready for immediate distribution
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a secure payload generator and a payload warehouse. The secure payload generator receives a payload, which includes a private key and a corresponding public key. For example, the private key may include information for decrypting a message encrypted with the public key. An encryption vector is determined based at least in part on the public key. The private key is encrypted using the determined encryption vector. The encrypted private key and the corresponding public key are provided to the payload warehouse. The payload warehouse stores the encrypted private key and the corresponding public key as a secured payload.